Magic's Mohamed Bamba, Markelle Fultz still working back from injuries

Orlando Magic rookie Mohamed Bamba said he gained valuable experience in evaluating opposing players as he recovered from a leg injury. (John Raoux/AP)

Orlando Magic rookie center Mohamed Bamba continues to gain momentum as he works to return from an injury to his lower left leg.

Bamba missed the last two-and-half months of the season with a stress fracture in his left tibia. The injury did not require surgery as the team sought treatment through therapy and rehabilitation.

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Bamba has responded well, and he’s now doing some jump-shooting.

“I’m a lot further along than I thought I would be,” Bamba said Thursday after player exit interviews at Amway Center.

He’s a lot further along in his mental development as well. Magic coach Steve Clifford used the injury as a teaching opportunity and had Bamba evaluate opposing players during games. He would meet with Clifford and assistant Mike Batiste after games to go over what he saw.

Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman said Bamba’s work in that area is going to pay dividends next season.

“I really believe we are going to look back on this injury with Mo and look at it as a blessing. I think what Mo hasn’t been able to show anybody — what fans don’t see or the outside world — are all the gains that he’s made internally,” Weltman said. “All the stuff that you say like, ‘You don’t know what you don’t know,’ when you come in, he knows this stuff now. He’s used this time very productively.”

Weltman said Bamba’s full return will not be rushed.

Bamba said it wasn’t easy looking on as his teammates surged down the stretch to make the playoffs. So in addition to his rehab work, Bamba tried to soak up as much from practice as he could.

“After a while I just got into a rhythm of just trying to be one of the first guys into the gym and one of the last guys to leave, and just always being around and trying to be a part of what we we’re doing,” he said.

As far as Markelle Fultz goes, Weltman said the guard continues to make progress working back from his injured right shoulder (thoracic outlet syndrome), but the timetable for his return remains uncertain.

While Fultz hasn’t returned to basketball activities, Weltman has been impressed with what he’s learned about the 20-year-old.

“You guys know I was excited on trade deadline day, and I can only say that I’m much more excited, having gotten to know Markelle and who he is as a person, who he is as a worker, [and] who he is as a teammate,” Weltman said. “Another guy, obviously this is a different situation, but another guy whose timetable will not be rushed.”